KNOXVILLE, Iowa — Reigning 360 Knoxville Nationals winner Aaron Reutzel headlines the field for Thursday’s opening qualifying night for the 33rd annual event at Knoxville Raceway.
Sammy Swindell is the only other 360 Nationals winner in Thursday’s field that includes heavy hitters from throughout the sprint car racing world. Swindell won the 360 Nationals in 2016.
Rico Abreu, who has won eight 410 winged sprint car features this season, including events with the World of Outlaws, High Limit Racing Series and All Star Circuit of Champions, will make a run at the 360 Nationals title driving his familiar No. 24r.
Sam Hafertepe Jr. has won everything there is to win in 360 sprint car racing except the Knoxville 360 Nationals. He’ll continue his pursuit in Thursday’s preliminary program.
Knoxville Raceway point leaders Austin McCarl (410s) and Chase Randall (360s), ASCS point leader Jason Martin and East Coast sensation Davey Franek are also entered on opening night.
Justin Peck, Chris Windom, Ryan Timms, Blake Hahn, Justin Henderson and Brenham Crouch are also among those to watch on Thursday.
The preliminary night feature pays $3,000 to win, but Saturday’s 30-lap main event pays $20,000 to win with $500 paid per lap led, making it possible for the winner to earn as much as $35,000.
Thursday’s Entry List
| OJ | Jeremy McCune | Billing, Mon. |
| 01 | Sammy Swindell | Lakeland, Tenn. |
| 1 | Brenham Crouch | Lubbock, Texas |
| 1k | Kelby Watt | Adel, Iowa |
| 2jr | Kelly Miller | Lethbridge, Alberta |
| 3 | Howard Moore | Memphis, Tenn. |
| 4c | Tuesday Calderwood | Goodyear, Ariz. |
| 4cw | Chris Windom | Canton, Ill. |
| 4w | Jamie Ball | Knoxville, Iowa |
| t4 | Tyler Graves | Chariton, Iowa |
| 5t | Ryan Timms | Oklahoma City, Okla. |
| g5 | Gage Pulkrabek | E. Grand Forks, Minn. |
| 6 | Dustin Selvage | Indianola, Iowa |
| 6t | Christopher Townsend | LaPorte, Texas |
| 7m | Chance Morton | Coweta, Okla. |
| 7taz | Tasker Phillips | Pleasantville, Iowa |
| 8 | Aaron Reutzel | Clute, Texas |
| 8h | Jacob Hughes | Hartford, S.D. |
| 9 | Chase Randall | Waco, Texas |
| 9m | Liam Martin | Binbrook, Ontario |
| 11x | Ayrton Genneten | Gravois Mills, Mo. |
| 15h | Sam Hafertepe Jr. | Sunnyvale, Texas |
| 16a | Colby Copeland | Roseville, Calif. |
| 18 | Ryan Roberts | Aurora, Neb. |
| 18t | Tanner Holmes | Jacksonville, Ore. |
| 20 | Justin Peck | Monrovia, Ind. |
| 22 | Ryan Leavitt | Knoxville, Iowa |
| 22k | Kaleb Johnson | Sioux Falls, S.D. |
| 22w | Aaron Werner | Colman, S.D. |
| 22x | Riley Goodno | Knoxville, Iowa |
| 24h | Kade Higday | Pleasant Hill, Iowa |
| 24r | Rico Abreu | St. Helena, Calif. |
| 28f | Davey Franek | Sussex, N.J. |
| 33 | Alan Zoutte | Knoxville, Iowa |
| 35L | Cody Ledge | Omaha, Neb. |
| 36 | Jason Martin | Lincoln, Neb. |
| 41 | Colton Hardy | Phoenix, Ariz. |
| 44 | Chris Martin | Ankeny, Iowa |
| 45x | Kyler Johnson | Quinter, Kan. |
| 47x | Dylan Westbrook | Ontario |
| 50yr | J.J. Hickle | Quilcen, Wash. |
| 52 | Blake Hahn | Sapulpa, Okla. |
| 55b | Brandon Anderson | Glenpool, Okla. |
| 70 | Calvis Landis | Knoxville, Iowa |
| 75x | J.T. Imperial | Mesa, Ariz. |
| 83h | Justin Henderson | Tea, S.D. |
| 83t | Tanner Carrick | Lincoln, Calif. |
| 84 | Scott Bogucki | McLaren Vale, Australia |
| 86 | Timothy Smith | Rocheport, Mo. |
| 88 | Austin McCarl | Altoona, Iowa |
| 99 | Tony Rost | Omaha, Neb. |
| 105 | Cody Ihlen | Pipestone, Minn. |